Tag Archives: Spirituality

The Labyrinth of Life

Posted on by yolandaberry
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 16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do;  I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

Do you feel that you’re on a road to nowhere? That life has pushed you down a twisted path that is based on poor choices and decisions and uncontrolled circumstances determined by external sources?

The more effort you put into your life, the more energy is sucked out of you. No matter what you try to do seems to work. Even though you may feel like you will never get to your destination, your life is constantly being diverted and misdirected. From dead ends, left turns and wrong turns that lead to right turns, it’s like a labyrinth of frustration, confusion, aggravation, not to mention stress. You may feel like a rat on a wheel, running to nowhere.

Just because you can’t see a way out, doesn’t mean there isn’t one. The forced direction that you experience, may possibly be how the Lord orders and directs your steps. With each twist and turn, the Lord is guiding your steps to the purpose and plan he has for your life. Who said life was easy? It’s not a direct shot even for the best of us. Some people may have fewer turns than others, yet we will hopefully end up exactly where we need to be.

Before you make a decision, you should always check your spirit. Do you have peace with your decision? Does something feel off? Do you feel nervous, tense, or afraid?

The Holy Spirit guides you with a sense of peace. He offers wisdom and guidance. Do not ignore your intuition. That is the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Fear can be very tricky because it can be a warning sign prior to danger, but it can also be a false alarm from satan himself. Either way, fear is not of God and you must learn to test the spirit prior to making any decision.

No matter where you are on your journey, keep on moving. God is not the master of confusion and He did not create you for failure. If you get tired and weary along the way, take a break or just pause for a minute (praise break), recharge your battery (meditate on scriptures), and walk-in faith (prayer).

The Lord has the ultimate blueprint and knows what He’s doing even if you don’t. He has the ultimate global positioning system (GPS). Let Him lead the way because He will never lead you wrong. “He will lead you by the still waters.” Psalm 23:2

 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  Proverbs 4:18

Embracing New Beginnings

Posted on by yolandaberry
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22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.  23 They are new every morning;
    great is thy faithfulness.  Lam 3:22-23

 As we enter a new year, it is refreshing to start again. When the sun rises, it promises us a new day to anticipate and expect positive changes in our lives.  We gain enthusiasm and motivation to begin new projects, set new goals and even finish tasks that we didn’t quite finish last year.

On the other hand, you may wake up in discouragement, resentment, regret, worry or fear. You may not have the excitement or motivation to even get out of bed. You just want to pull the covers over your head and hide from the world because you just don’t want to deal with all the crap that life brings your way. It may feel it’s pointless to begin again because you have not seen the fruits of your labor or experienced laughter, happiness or joy in a long time. In every problem, there is an opportunity. We must see our problems with spiritual eyes.  

In the Bible, it states, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

Whatever season you may be experiencing, you must remember that it is only for a season. The uncomfortable situation or circumstance you’re facing is not impossible with God. The foundation of the Word of God promises us that we are overcomers despite all the challenges and obstacles we face.

Subconsciously, it feels like the month of January seems to set off how well the year will turn out. We must constantly put our thoughts and perspectives in check. We may get anxious about what we will encounter in the New Year. It’s very easy to lean towards negativity, self-doubt and fear. Our mindset must be elevated so we can produce and achieve those anticipated goals, visions and dreams that we hold in hearts. We should enter a new year with clarity and a peaceful spirit.  We can set the pace with our ability to control our thoughts. “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ Jesus.” 2 Corth 10:5

It all begins with the choices we make each day. We must follow through in obedience. We should listen to instructions, take heed to suggestions and receive wise counsel when needed. The smallest steps can make a big difference in the final outcome. Do we allow the weather to determine our mood? Or, do we allow negative people affect our whole day? We have power over our emotions and behavior with what we allow to influence our lives. If you didn’t like how your year went last year or the year before, you can analyze what went wrong and try to change it.

Some things that happen to us is out of our control, but we can look forward with hope knowing that nothing in life remains the same. As long as we hold onto hope, we can overcome. “Let us glory in tribulation also knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience, and experience hope: And hope makes us not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3-5

One more thing we should consider, we should not be overwhelmed with all the demands in life.  Live in the moment. Live on purpose. Sometimes we just need to slow down. The constant flow of instant gratification and instant information at our fingertips destroys our ability to wait. We must learn patience. Learn to do what we can with the time that is given to us. We must learn to be good stewards of our time. “Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12

Cheers to new beginnings!

Additional Scripture References:

2 Peter 1:4-11

Isaiah 43:19

Lam 3

Gay Marriage: The Law of the Land

Posted on by yolandaberry
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As the nation rejoices for the new laws upholding the approval of gay marriages, let us not forget that with every freedom carries the cost of a heavy responsibility.  What appears to be freedom, wisdom, and legal rights for a man, it is direct disobedience to the Word of God and will trigger the most divine judgment on the land.

As in the days of Moses, when a nation goes against the divine laws of God, disasters occurred. Pharaoh was the most powerful leader whose heart was hardened by the laws of God and plagues swept his land destroying everything in its path.

Do not be surprised when the economy collapses or if there is a major earthquake that splits the United States in half from Mississippi upward towards Wisconsin or Minnesota.

I’m far from a doom and gloom Christian, but history teaches us that when we live in disobedience, the Lord will judge the land.  Jeremiah, the prophet, warned of repentance, yet the people turned a blind ear against the warnings.

The natural man does not understand the spiritual things of God.  I Corth 2:14  Although many people may not hear the voice of God, we are not blind to the natural disasters, economic tsunamis, rumors of war, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes in diver places, famine and pestilence for these are warning signs that were written in the Bible so we will be aware of what is yet to come.  Matt 24

It is not a time to live in fear, but to live for God.  We shine the brightest in the darkness. We are still to love each person regardless of our differences, but that does not mean we have to accept or agree with a gay lifestyle that is against one’s faith. Let’s not get confused. This is not a personal judgment but God’s judgment.

Although the law was passed, it still does not make it right in the sight of God. Many people are afraid to speak up because they fear persecution so it’s much easier to go along with the crowd.

Yes, anyone can provide love for a child. But, no one can dispute that man and woman is the only way to procreate. No scientist will ever be able to reproduce life between woman to woman or man to man. Simply impossible.  This was God’s divine plan and purpose for man on this earth despite the distortions that man desires in his own heart.

Bible References:

Matt 19:5

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

I Corinth 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 1: 16

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:24-32

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was met.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.